Even the mild-mannered Sophia Western of Tom Jones and Richardson's annoyingly pious Clarissa Harlow distinguished themselves by saying no to the authority of their parents, their societies, and norms and demanding to marry the man they chose. Perhaps it was exactly because women were deprived of so much in their real lives that they became so subversive in the realm of fiction, refusing the authority imposed on them, breaking out of old structures, not submitting. Azar Nafisi
About This Quote

In the literary world, there is a certain amount of freedom to create and write about what one wants. When women were not allowed to travel and see the world, they turned to writing and creating novels that were based on their imagination and created an idea of romance and love that was not associated with familial ties.

Source: Things Ive Been Silent About: Memories

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